SLAC vibes - Middlebury, Wesleyan, Vassar....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an athletic, straight son who is politically progressive and socially very tolerant (volunteers with kids who have disabilities, befriended the trans kid in his class who couldn't find a partner for a project, etc). He's considering some SLACs at which he could play his sport. We have visited F&M and Dickinson, both of which seem like decent fits vibe-wise.

What are the student bodies like at Middlebury, Wesleyan, Trinity (CT), Haverford, Occidental, and Vassar? Maybe the Maine ones as well (Colby, Bates, Bowdoin)?

I don't think a super artsy crunchy place will be the best fit for him....he is going to want to find friends who want to watch professional sports, join a fantasy football league, etc, and girls who are interested in dating men. I feel like at a smaller school you really have to make sure it's the right fit.

Except for Trinity, I know all these schools very well. From your description of your son, I would pick Middlebury, Early Decision.

NP. I have a dc who sounds similar to op’s. Middlebury is kinda in the middle of nowhere, isn’t it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an athletic, straight son who is politically progressive and socially very tolerant (volunteers with kids who have disabilities, befriended the trans kid in his class who couldn't find a partner for a project, etc). He's considering some SLACs at which he could play his sport. We have visited F&M and Dickinson, both of which seem like decent fits vibe-wise.

What are the student bodies like at Middlebury, Wesleyan, Trinity (CT), Haverford, Occidental, and Vassar? Maybe the Maine ones as well (Colby, Bates, Bowdoin)?

I don't think a super artsy crunchy place will be the best fit for him....he is going to want to find friends who want to watch professional sports, join a fantasy football league, etc, and girls who are interested in dating men. I feel like at a smaller school you really have to make sure it's the right fit.

Except for Trinity, I know all these schools very well. From your description of your son, I would pick Middlebury, Early Decision.

NP. I have a dc who sounds similar to op’s. Middlebury is kinda in the middle of nowhere, isn’t it?

If you aren’t a skiier or at least into the outdoors, it will feel like nowhere. If you want to spend four years in the Vermont mountains, it’s not nowhere. If you like skiing, it’s the “middle of everything.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Midd is located in the middle of nowhere.

That can be an advantage for outdoorsy kids as PPs mentioned!

[Anonymous]

If you like long cold winters looking at cows, Middlebury is a good choice. Not for us.

[Anonymous]

Kenyon. My very similar (other than female) found her fit there. Also, for all of these remember that the athletes often are their own community within a college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an athletic, straight son who is politically progressive and socially very tolerant (volunteers with kids who have disabilities, befriended the trans kid in his class who couldn't find a partner for a project, etc). He's considering some SLACs at which he could play his sport. We have visited F&M and Dickinson, both of which seem like decent fits vibe-wise.

What are the student bodies like at Middlebury, Wesleyan, Trinity (CT), Haverford, Occidental, and Vassar? Maybe the Maine ones as well (Colby, Bates, Bowdoin)?

I don't think a super artsy crunchy place will be the best fit for him....he is going to want to find friends who want to watch professional sports, join a fantasy football league, etc, and girls who are interested in dating men. I feel like at a smaller school you really have to make sure it's the right fit.

Vassar probably is not what your son is seeking regarding social life and non-academic activities.

Davidson College in North Carolina should be a comfortable environment for him, but not sure if all sports are D-1 or just basketball is D-1.

Bowdoin & Middlebury should also be given serious consideration by your son.

Colby, Denison, & Franklin & Marshall should also be considered.

I agree on Denison (I have a DC there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you like long cold winters looking at cows, Middlebury is a good choice. Not for us.

Oh no! How will they survive without your kid???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an athletic, straight son who is politically progressive and socially very tolerant (volunteers with kids who have disabilities, befriended the trans kid in his class who couldn't find a partner for a project, etc). He's considering some SLACs at which he could play his sport. We have visited F&M and Dickinson, both of which seem like decent fits vibe-wise.

What are the student bodies like at Middlebury, Wesleyan, Trinity (CT), Haverford, Occidental, and Vassar? Maybe the Maine ones as well (Colby, Bates, Bowdoin)?

I don't think a super artsy crunchy place will be the best fit for him....he is going to want to find friends who want to watch professional sports, join a fantasy football league, etc, and girls who are interested in dating men. I feel like at a smaller school you really have to make sure it's the right fit.

Except for Trinity, I know all these schools very well. From your description of your son, I would pick Middlebury, Early Decision.

No way this kid should ED with this much uncertainty at this late date. Apply RD and go to admitted student days and see which one feels right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an athletic, straight son who is politically progressive and socially very tolerant (volunteers with kids who have disabilities, befriended the trans kid in his class who couldn't find a partner for a project, etc). He's considering some SLACs at which he could play his sport. We have visited F&M and Dickinson, both of which seem like decent fits vibe-wise.

What are the student bodies like at Middlebury, Wesleyan, Trinity (CT), Haverford, Occidental, and Vassar? Maybe the Maine ones as well (Colby, Bates, Bowdoin)?

I don't think a super artsy crunchy place will be the best fit for him....he is going to want to find friends who want to watch professional sports, join a fantasy football league, etc, and girls who are interested in dating men. I feel like at a smaller school you really have to make sure it's the right fit.

Except for Trinity, I know all these schools very well. From your description of your son, I would pick Middlebury, Early Decision.

No way this kid should ED with this much uncertainty at this late date. Apply RD and go to admitted student days and see which one feels right.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not Vassar or Wesleyan extremely not middle of the road. For combo of sports, active dating vibe middle of road Midd, Colgate, Richmond, and Holy Cross. Would also rule out Bates.

Lots of opinions from people about Wes who obviously have no connection to the school. Wes has many popular arts programs, so yes, there are many artsy students. But there are also lots of stem kids, and lax bros, and dudes who play fantasy football. Lots of different kinds of kids. Great school worth looking at.

This! There’s lots of misinformation from the Wes haters. In fact it’s very friendly with a super broad range of kids. Haters love to throw around “too woke” but it’s noise. Go visit and see how it feels

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not Vassar or Wesleyan extremely not middle of the road. For combo of sports, active dating vibe middle of road Midd, Colgate, Richmond, and Holy Cross. Would also rule out Bates.

Lots of opinions from people about Wes who obviously have no connection to the school. Wes has many popular arts programs, so yes, there are many artsy students. But there are also lots of stem kids, and lax bros, and dudes who play fantasy football. Lots of different kinds of kids. Great school worth looking at.

This! There’s lots of misinformation from the Wes haters. In fact it’s very friendly with a super broad range of kids. Haters love to throw around “too woke” but it’s noise. Go visit and see how it feels

agree on the visit but don't apply ED